LanceOregon
Moderator
Roger Witter is a 48 yr old man who lives next to the infamous Rockwood neighborhood of Gresham, OR, which is adjacent to Portland. Witter has an Oregon Concealed Handgun License, and was lauded as a hero last year, when he intervened with his revolver and rescued a man who had been badly beaten on the head with a hammer in Rockwood. A long time resident of the area, Witter has watched the Rockwood neighborhood deteriorate rapidly in recent years, as drugs and gangs have fueled ever increasing crime.
This past Tuesday night, Witter was shopping in the local AT&T store, when two young black males stole Apple iPhones from the store, and ran off. Witter ran off after them, and witnessed the thieves getting into a getaway car. At this point, he fired two rounds from his revolver, in an attempt to shoot out one of the front tires of the vehicle.
Witter's attempt to take out the tire failed. When police arrived, they promptly arrested Witter, and took away both his firearm and his license to carry. Initially, the police charged Witter with four crimes: unlawful use of a weapon, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and unlawful discharge of a weapon within city limits.
However, the judge hearing his case threw out two of the charges, and he now only faces two misdemeanors: disorderly conduct and discharging a firearm inside city limits. The local Sheriff has stated that Witter's CHL will not be returned to him, even if he is found to be not guilty.
The liberal local media in Portland has been having a field day with this story, with many labeling Witter as being a "Vigilante". They condemn him for being irresponsible, and not obeying the law.
Gun owners have been split over this controversy, with some supporting Witter, but others saying that the Oregon CHL does not make a person a police officer, and that Witter went too far in chasing after the crooks, and trying to shoot the getaway car's tire out.
While Witter awaits trial, and has been forced to hire an attorney, both of the two young black male thieves remain at large in the community.
What is your take on this? Did Witter show bad judgment? Was he reckless and irresponsible? Does he deserve to face charges? Oregon toughened its CHL law in recent years, and now just a misdemeanor conviction will bar a person from getting a license. So if convicted, Witter will never be able to get a CHL again.
Here is a photo of Witter being interviewed by the press:
Their are many aspects to this case that anyone who has a CHL law should take into consideration and think about. Would anyone here ever fire a gun at a fleeing thief? Does a minor crime like that justify pulling your weapon and firing? On the other hand, what if it had instead been a murder that Witter had witnessed? Would that then have made him opening fire OK?
Here is a detailed news report including a video interview with Witter:
http://gresham.katu.com/content/man-opens-fire-theft-suspects-police-arrest-him
And here is an editorial in Today's Portland Oregonian newspaper, criticizing Witter for his actions:
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/05/civic_intervention_with_a_gun.html
And here is one of the examples of the media labeling Witter a vigilante.
http://www.katu.com/news/local/94974914.html
Tell me, would you say that he is a "vigilante" ?? Or is the media just trying to sensationalize the story?
.
This past Tuesday night, Witter was shopping in the local AT&T store, when two young black males stole Apple iPhones from the store, and ran off. Witter ran off after them, and witnessed the thieves getting into a getaway car. At this point, he fired two rounds from his revolver, in an attempt to shoot out one of the front tires of the vehicle.
Witter's attempt to take out the tire failed. When police arrived, they promptly arrested Witter, and took away both his firearm and his license to carry. Initially, the police charged Witter with four crimes: unlawful use of a weapon, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and unlawful discharge of a weapon within city limits.
However, the judge hearing his case threw out two of the charges, and he now only faces two misdemeanors: disorderly conduct and discharging a firearm inside city limits. The local Sheriff has stated that Witter's CHL will not be returned to him, even if he is found to be not guilty.
The liberal local media in Portland has been having a field day with this story, with many labeling Witter as being a "Vigilante". They condemn him for being irresponsible, and not obeying the law.
Gun owners have been split over this controversy, with some supporting Witter, but others saying that the Oregon CHL does not make a person a police officer, and that Witter went too far in chasing after the crooks, and trying to shoot the getaway car's tire out.
While Witter awaits trial, and has been forced to hire an attorney, both of the two young black male thieves remain at large in the community.
What is your take on this? Did Witter show bad judgment? Was he reckless and irresponsible? Does he deserve to face charges? Oregon toughened its CHL law in recent years, and now just a misdemeanor conviction will bar a person from getting a license. So if convicted, Witter will never be able to get a CHL again.
Here is a photo of Witter being interviewed by the press:
Their are many aspects to this case that anyone who has a CHL law should take into consideration and think about. Would anyone here ever fire a gun at a fleeing thief? Does a minor crime like that justify pulling your weapon and firing? On the other hand, what if it had instead been a murder that Witter had witnessed? Would that then have made him opening fire OK?
Here is a detailed news report including a video interview with Witter:
http://gresham.katu.com/content/man-opens-fire-theft-suspects-police-arrest-him
And here is an editorial in Today's Portland Oregonian newspaper, criticizing Witter for his actions:
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/05/civic_intervention_with_a_gun.html
And here is one of the examples of the media labeling Witter a vigilante.
http://www.katu.com/news/local/94974914.html
Tell me, would you say that he is a "vigilante" ?? Or is the media just trying to sensationalize the story?
.